Sandi Toksvig said ‘anyone who can cook dinner and look after children can host QI’ when she gave a hilarious and thought-provoking talk at Newnham.
The distinguished Girton alumna was at Newnham College to sign the Roll of Honorary Fellows.
An Honorary Fellowship is a highly prestigious award which Newnham bestows upon eminent women who often have a connection with the College and have made an outstanding contribution to their chosen field.
Toksvig wrote and performed in the first, and so far only, all-women Footlights show. After she graduated with a first-class degree in Archaeology and Anthropology and Law, she performed at the famous Comedy Store in London before branching out into acting and presenting.
She has been a panellist on a number of TV quiz and game shows including Radio 4’s News Quiz. Last year she became the first female presenter of a mainstream TV comedy show when she replaced Stephen Fry on QI.
Sandi is also a columnist and has written critically acclaimed plays, novels and stage shows. She has been involved with charities working for civil liberties, human rights and women’s education, and is Chancellor of Portsmouth University.
She gave a sold-out talk in December to students, staff and Fellows titled Women: Revolution and Knitting before she formally became an Honorary Fellow at a special ceremony. The discussion took a wry look at women’s history and explained why she felt compelled to jointly found The Women’s Equality Party.
She said: “It is unbelievable that in 2016 women are still making firsts, it is why we are the only political party that hopes to one day not exist. I’m not sure why it took until 2016 for a woman to present a show like QI, it isn’t that difficult.
“They give you the questions beforehand, and the card you hold with the questions on is not as heavy as the boys led me to believe, so I don’t know what the reason is.”
Sandi Toksvig delivering her talk at Newnham
Sandi Toksvig’s discussion was titled Women: Revolution and Knitting
The sold-out audience
Sandi Toksvig discussed women’s history
Toksvig signing the Roll of Honorary Fellows
Dame Carol Black, Principal of Newnham College, with Sandi Toksvig